سُوْرَةُ فَاطِرٍ
Surah Faatir (35) — Ayah 19
وَمَا يَسْتَوِى ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ وَٱلْبَصِيرُ ﴿19﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Not alike are the blind (disbelievers in Islâmic Monotheism) and the seeing (believers in Islâmic Monotheism).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَا
wamā
And not
يَسْتَوِى
yastawī
equal
ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ
l-aʿmā
(are) the blind
وَٱلْبَصِيرُ
wal-baṣīru
and the seeing
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
19. The blind and the seeing [27] are not equal.
[27]
Who Are the Seeing and the Blind?
That is, one person is so blind of heart that he does not even care to reflect upon the signs of Allah Almighty scattered throughout the universe. Another person, upon seeing these very signs, is compelled to accept the oneness of Allah Almighty, and after pondering over the wonders of nature, his heart becomes filled with the love of Allah Almighty, and involuntarily, praise and glorification of Allah flows from his tongue. So can these two be alike? Or one person continues to advance in the darkness of ignorance, while the other, remaining cautious in the light of knowledge, continues his journey of life—can these two be alike? It is obvious that, in terms of their way of life, these two are opposites of each other, so their outcomes should also be opposite to each other. That is, just as cool shade and scorching sunlight are opposites, in the same way, the one who travels in the light of knowledge will be granted the paradise of cool shade and other blessings. And the one who advances in the darkness of ignorance will suddenly find himself at the edge of Hell.
[27]
Who Are the Seeing and the Blind?
That is, one person is so blind of heart that he does not even care to reflect upon the signs of Allah Almighty scattered throughout the universe. Another person, upon seeing these very signs, is compelled to accept the oneness of Allah Almighty, and after pondering over the wonders of nature, his heart becomes filled with the love of Allah Almighty, and involuntarily, praise and glorification of Allah flows from his tongue. So can these two be alike? Or one person continues to advance in the darkness of ignorance, while the other, remaining cautious in the light of knowledge, continues his journey of life—can these two be alike? It is obvious that, in terms of their way of life, these two are opposites of each other, so their outcomes should also be opposite to each other. That is, just as cool shade and scorching sunlight are opposites, in the same way, the one who travels in the light of knowledge will be granted the paradise of cool shade and other blessings. And the one who advances in the darkness of ignorance will suddenly find himself at the edge of Hell.
